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Ely said this is the fourth year for the project, which began at the suggestion of a friend serving in the National Guard, at a time when troops had been sent to Ferguson to help keep peace during the demonstrations and riots that followed the August 2014 killing of Michael Brown, 18, by a white police officer.

"She had to work at the quarters that day, so she asked if I would help put together a meal," Ely recalled. "We had like five turkeys and several hams — everybody from the community came out to help.

"So, we made it a tradition from then on to do something."

The idea has grown more popular, Ely said, and now there are plans to add a brunch for those officers who must work next month on Christmas Day.

Osage County ambulance staff work 48-hour shifts, so Thursday's luncheon came in the middle of their shift.

Powers said you get used to working on holidays, and for many, Thanksgiving is just another day.

"The fact is that if something tragic happens on this kind of a day, it kind of ruins the holiday for those folks (who experience the loss) for years to come — and you really don't want to see that."

Trisha's husband, Mike Ely, smoked the meats earlier in the week.

"We did about an eight-hour smoke on the two turkeys," he said.

"It takes a lot of patience — and I've got a wireless thermometer that tells me how it's doing."

Trisha said many of the 4-H students and community volunteers still spend part of the day with their own families.

Mike added: "These people are taking a lot more time from their families than we are.

"This (meal) is for them and everybody who's doing their jobs, that we typically don't think about on holidays."